Brazilian Football Legend Ronaldinho Denies Crypto Scam Accusations
Retired Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho Gaucho has denied accusations of involvement in a cryptocurrency pyramid scheme bearing his name.
On Thursday, the soccer star, whose real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, appeared before a group of lawmakers at a congressional hearing to address these serious allegations.
He categorically denied any association with the company implicated in the fraudulent activities, known as 18k Ronaldinho Comércio e Participações Ltda.
The company lured investors to use an alleged scam platform.
The platform operators invited crypto holders to invest a minimum of $30 worth of crypto, and promised them gains of 2% or more per day on their stakes.
"They misused my name to create this company's corporate name," Ronaldinho asserted firmly during the hearing, according to a statement from the National Congress of Brazil's lower house.
"It is not true I am the founder and controlling partner of 18K Ronaldinho," the 43-year-old former player known for his illustrious career with Brazil and Barcelona said.
The renowned former player clarified that he had signed a contract with a US-based entity, 18k Watch Corporation, in 2016 to develop a line of watches featuring his image.
However, it remains unclear whether these two companies are related.
During the congressional hearing, the rapporteur Ricardo Silva inquired about Ronaldinho's legal actions against the company for unauthorized use of his image.
The soccer legend revealed that his brother is handling the legal aspects of these matters, putting the onus on him to navigate the complex legal landscape.
Notably, Ronaldinho found himself embroiled in a class-action lawsuit initiated by Brazil's Consumer Relations Institute in 2020.
The lawsuit sought 300
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